Will fast food die before it kills us?

Fast food is probably the most universally cherished sin. The greasy food that sends all the taste buds to a heavenly ride — or its supposedly healthier version that convinces the brain about its positives — all of it is loved by the foodies. Fast food is almost unavoidable. Every second street and corner has a chain restaurant worshipping the gluttony. And the fast food industry has started playing a crucial role in economy. In 2013, the industry generated a whopping amount of 191 billion U.S. dollars. Recent statistics show that around 83 percent of U.S. diners eat at quick service restaurants at least once a week.

Putting healthy in fast food

There has been a consistent debate around fast foods and their vitality. The convenience overlaps the dreadful health effects. But times are changing, and fast food’s association with grease-drenched fries and burgers may fade away soon. Restaurants are realizing that it is important to keep up with the health demands of consumers. McDonald’s has always been a pioneer in this context. It introduced salad to its menu in 1985 and recently added the option of apple slices to Happy Meals.

Taco Bell joined this league, too. It decided to go pro-health with a pledge to remove all artificial coloring, flavoring, trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, and additives from most menu items by the end of 2015. Taco Bell’s sister chain, Pizza Hut joined the wagon and announced that it will too remove all artificial flavors and coloring by July of 2015.

The signs are positive and highly customer friendly. Everyone knows that fast food is not going away, but the scenario is majorly changing. People don’t just want the taste on their plate. Rather, they want a sumptuous meal that is both delicious and nutritious.

Millennials mark and guide the change

The most important category that is being considered by the restaurants is Millennials. The restaurant chains look for the feedback from this category. They form the part of conscious, ethical eaters. The people have noticed that it is not only the industry that has grown big but their bodies, too.

Health is a prominent factor, now. There has been a rise in the awareness about the correlation between fast food and obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other various health issues. People are avoiding greasy and deep-fried fast food and are moving towards healthier options like Subway, Panera Bread, and Chipotle.

The change is definitely not bad. It brings in revival and has been one of the reasons that we have breakfast options on menus. The industry is highly customer centric and revolves around the demands of the consumer. The restaurants and consumers both understand the importance of healthy food and do not want a place full of fat, obese, and unhealthy people. We all want healthy, smart individuals who are able to consume time efficiently and healthily. The trend currently being observed can be classified as the death of fast food and a stage of reformation. It is signifying the beginning of change for modern consumption.